
Popular Saltwater Fish Species for your Aquarium
Here are some of the most popular saltwater fish species that are commonly kept in aquariums, each with unique characteristics and care requirements.
A common rule of thumb for how many marine fish you can keep in an aquarium is to allow 1 inch of fish per gallon of water; however, this can vary depending on the specific fish species and their size, with reef tanks generally requiring even more space per fish due to their larger waste output and need for swimming room.
Regal Angelfish
Marcos’ Wrasse
Red Sea bannerfish
Tail-spot wrasse
Barred Soapfish
Clown Wrasse
Talbot’s Damselfish
Pearlscale Butterflyfish
Mirror Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Spanish Hogfish
Threadfin Cardinalfish
Moon Wrasse
Pajama Cardinalfish
Allen’s Wrasse
King Angelfish
Blackeye Thicklip Wrasse
Yellow Coris Wrasse
Lamarck’s Angelfish
Pineapplefish
Blue Chromis
Five-lined Cardinalfish
Melon Butterflyfish
Ornate Butterflyfish
Blackback Butterflyfish
Klein’s Butterflyfish
Burgess’ Butterflyfish
Keyhole Angelfish
Eibli Angelfish
African Flameback Angelfish
Axilspot Hogfish
Ochre-striped Cardinalfish
Azure Damselfish
Rock Beauty
Schooling Bannerfish
Sixline Soapfish
Three-Spot Damselfish
Solar Fairy Wrasse
Yellowtail Blue Damselfish
Vagabond Butterflyfish
Rainford’s Butterflyfish
Threadfin Butterflyfish
Spotfin Hogfish
Spotted Wrasse
Sixbar Wrasse
Chalk Bass
Cleaner Wrasse
Blue Angelfish
Dusky Wrasse
Pastel Green Wrasse
Big Longnose Butterflyfish
Lubbock’s Fairy Wrasse
Black-Axil Chromis
Black Velvet Angelfish
Golden Butterflyfish
Eightband Butterflyfish
Oval Butterflyfish
Saddleback Butterflyfish
Bennett’s Butterflyfish
Potter’s Angelfish
Bicolor Angelfish
Split-Level Hogfish
Indian Yellowtail Angelfish
Blue-Spotted Wrasse
Fourline Wrasse
Queen Angelfish
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Watanabe’s Angelfish
Reticulated Damselfish
Redfin Fairy Wrasse
Vermiculated Angelfish
Teardrop Butterflyfish
Spotband Butterflyfish
Whitetail Pygmy Angelfish
Seale’s Cardinalfish
Sergeant Major
Belted Wrasse
Multi-barred Angelfish
Bicolor Cleaner Wrasse
Horned Bannerfish
Radiant Wrasse
Bird Wrasse
Four-Stripe Damselfish
Green Chromis
Harlequin Tuskfish
Blue-spotted Angelfish
Latticed Butterflyfish
Meyer’s Butterflyfish
Lined Butterflyfish
Collare Butterflyfish
Eastern Triangle Butterflyfish
Flame Angelfish
Golden Angelfish
Blackfin Hogfish
Three-spot Angelfish
Purple Tilefish
Singular Bannerfish
Zigzag Wrasse
Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish
Yellowtail Coris Wrasse
Fiji Blue Devil Damselfish
Scribbled Angelfish
Tinker’s Butterflyfish
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Rusty Angelfish
Twospot Cardinalfish
Peacock Wrasse
Orbiculate Cardinalfish
Peacock Wrasse
Barred Hamlet
Native to the Western Pacific Ocean. Known for the elongated filaments on the dorsal fin of males, used in their flashing displays. Small and slender-bodied, with vibrant coloration that intensifies during courtship. Peaceful and active, preferring reef environments...